My Village

So the other day I posted the age old expression on facebook that it takes a village to raise a child and that I have a good one.  I wanted to elaborate because I feel very blessed to have such a caring "village" for Collin.

Once a week, my sister-in-law comes over to spend the entire day with me and Collin.  She does this for 2 reasons:  1--to spend time with Collin to make sure that she continues to be his favorite aunt :) and 2--to allow  me to get caught up on housework.  If you are not a stay-at-home-mom you might be thinking...you stay home all day, how is your house not clean?  Well, let me explain.  When there's laundry to do or dishes to clean, I usually have a little boy that is giggling and bringing me puzzles, books, and Star Wars action figures to play with.  I would much rather spend my time doing that than housework.  And when my little man sleeps...this mama is exhausted!! So I usually lounge around until he wakes up, ready to play and explore.  So...the housework tends to be forgotten..as it should be! Perhaps now you are saying, well why doesn't your husband do it?  Well...when my hubby gets home, I want him to play with us and visit with us for the remainder of the evening.  Again, the housework can wait :)

So I am very lucky that I get once a week to get everything back in order.  But my village is more than just this! Mark and I try to make sure we have a date night once a week.  Sometimes we go out, sometimes we stay in.  And when we need a babysitter, there is never a shortage of people who want to take and play with Collin.  And I think this is fabulous.  Collin has so many people who love and care for him.  And because of that, Mark and I can continue to tend to our relationship and make sure we are meeting each others' needs.  We firmly believe that we need to have a healthy, strong marriage and a healthy physical and emotional connection in order to be great parents for Collin.


But our village doesn't end there.  Sometimes, I need a rest..to nap, to get  my hair cut, to grocery shop, to work out.  And when I need this, Mark's mom and dad are always there (Mine would be in a heart beat but they live 5+ hours away). 

And my parents, who live 5+ hours away, are always making sure Collin has fun toys/books/goodies whenever they get the chance.  And when they come to visit, it's Collin time, 24/7! They LOVE skyping with him.  My dad insists on getting a picture text every day :)  And my mom lived with us Collin's first month of life doing our laundry, fixing our meals, and making sure all we had to do was love, cuddle and get to know this little man!  And she's always there to offer advice and help.  I probably call my mom 2 or 3 times a day..at least!! I mean, she raised 5 kids, the woman knows her stuff!!

Lastly, there are my friends who have invested so much love and interest in Collin--making sure to stop by and visit with him and bring him books --> (I have a friend that I'm pretty sure has decided it's her job to buy Collin every scholastic book in the world).

I know there are moms who have to do all this without anyone's help.  I mean, my mom had 5 kids, my dad was in the Navy and we lived 18+ hours away from any of her family.  But she did end up fostering her own village of Navy wives to help out when the men were out to sea. But there are moms who don't have this opportunity to have a village..and to you, mommas, I say "wow...you are amazing and strong." 

I know that I am blessed and I thank God every night for each of these people in our lives.  I am definitely not Super Mom..but that's okay with me because I know I am a super mom (ha..did you like my play on words there? *geek*).  I saw a quote once that said "There is no way to be a perfect mom.  But there are a million ways to be a good one."  So I guess I am just saying that, whether you are your own village or whether you have a village like mine or something completely different, if you and your family are happy and it works for you, then pat yourself on the back, because you are doing a stand-up job!

Ok, thanks for listening to my rambles...

The Juniper Cottage Review and Giveaway

Jennifer from The Juniper Cottage wanted to celebrate her little one's birthday today by offering one of you guys one of her diapers!! How great is that?? You get a present because it's HER kiddo's birthday?! 

So let me tell you why we love this diaper and then I'll tell you how you can get the chance to win one!!


What We Loved:

NO RED MARKS.  With the way she has designed her diaper, only soft fabric touches the legs and back.  Because of this, no red marks are left behind. This is hard for a diaper to accomplish. We have some other diapers we love that occasionally leave red marks on our chunky monkey.  Not going to happen with this diaper!


STURDY SNAPS.  Her snap design is easy to use and sturdy!! You really have to pull to get them unsnapped! 


OS.  It is one size fits all - designed to fit from 10 to 35 pounds.  

ADORABLE Colors and Prints! Seriously, look at these cute owls!! 


There was nothing we disliked!  This diaper is fantastically made and fits wonderfully! I do need to mention that her diapers don't typically come with inserts.  We used our Knickernappies Loopy Do insert and never had any leak issues!! 


Her diapers cost $12-14 depending on the fabric you choose!  And besides diapers, she also sells wet bags (I have a smaller one that I keep my wet cloth wipes in in my diaper bag and it is FABULOUS! No leaks!), crib shoes, wipes, inserts, longies, shorties, and skirties! You really must check it all out!



And now one of you gets to win a diaper in your choice of solid color AND 2 wipes!!


THE RULES:


1.  This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada who are at least 18 years of age.


2.  The mandatory entry must be completed in order for all other entries to be valid.


3.  Contest will end on March 5th at 11:59 pm.  Winner will be drawn using random.org and will be contacted via email.


4.  Winner must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be drawn.


5.  Any questions? Email me:  biehladventures@hotmail.com

ENTER HERE

Night Time Diapering in the Biehl House

I know that there are lots of folks who are struggling to find a night time solution that works for them.  We have tried and had success with several different systems.

Before Collin was 6 months old, we were triple stuffing his bumGenius 3.0s OS diapers.  We had the standard insert plus 2 microfiber doublers. For awhile, we were able to stuff a microfiber insert and a hemp babies little weed and that got us by.  Well, once his pees became heavier, this just wasn't working for us anymore.  

So, our night time diaper success stories: 

Option 1:  Lollidoo Overnight Eco-pockets: We stuff them with 1 Hemp Babies little weed ($5.95), 1 Hemp Babies Doubler ($3) and 1 newborn sized microfiber insert (we typically use the smaller insert that comes with the Rumparooz OS diapers).

These diapers are more expensive (approx. $32 when not on sale) but they are full proof for us.  I will say that the snaps can be a pain to fasten and unfasten..but there's no way Collin could ever undo them.  I'm willing to put up with that if it means we have dry sheets in the morning.

We have been using this system since June of 2010 with NO Leaks.

Option 2:  Nifty Nappy Fitted diaper, an extra Hemp Babies Doubler covered by a Weehuggers size 2 cover.  This option is trim and super absorbent. 

Obviously, NN fitteds will be hard to find since they are no longer being made.  Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique has them in stock for $23.50.  A Hemp Babies Doubler will run you about $3 at Cotton Babies.  And a Weehuggers cover (size 1 or 2) costs around $18.95 at Kelly's Closet.

We've used this option multiple times and, again, NEVER had a leak.

Option 3:  A Kissaluvs OS Contour diaper, an extra microfiber doubler (again, we use the smaller one from the Rumparooz OS diaper), covered by a Weehuggers size 2 cover.

A Kissaluvs OS Contour will cost you about $10.95 at Thanks Mama.  And the Weehuggers cover will cost you $18.95 at Kelly's Closet.

The only annoying thing is that the contour does not have snaps or velcro.  I don't use a snappi because I can get the cover to hold it all in place.  You could use a snappi if you wanted.

Regardless of that, this is another full proof system for us.  No leaks.

Option 4:  A "Build Your Own Fitted" from Bum Covered Diapers.  Now, I currently have a review and giveaway up for one of these diapers (ends March 3).  So, for this option we use the fitted diaper ($6-$9--prices will be going up in April) and either a Thirsties size Large cover ($11.50) or a pair of Nifty Nappy Wool Longies.

Our fitted diaper was cow print flannel, a microfiber soaker (sewn in) and microfleece lining.

When Collin woke up, the fitted wasn't even soaked through to the outer layer.  I couldn't believe it!

So, for less than $20, you could have a full proof night time system!

Option 5: A Little Comfort USA OS Fitted ($16.97 at Otter Blotters), an extra Little Comfort bamboo doubler ($4), and a Thirsties size Large cover ($11.50).

While this isn't a very trim option, it is SUPER absorbent and we have NEVER had a leak.  Trimness is never something we care about at night time.  Collin wears shirts and pj pants so they fit over anything!

We have used this system for several months without problems!!

Option #6:  Blissful Booty AIO with 2 extra soakers (approx. $17.99)

This is a trim and super easy option.  Seriously, we just lay the 2 soakers in the diaper, put it on Collin and he's good to go all night long! This has become one of my favorite night time systems because it so stinkin' easy! And best of all?  It line dries SUPER fast! LOVE LOVE LOVE! And did you see the price?? AWESOME!

Option #7:  itti bitti tutto OS diaper (approx. $26.95)

When we use this diaper at night, we use all the inserts that come with it.  Once we snap them all in (which is super fast and easy because they are COLOR CODED!!), Collin is good to go all night long! It is soft, trim, and super absorbent.  Although a bit pricey, it's a surefire way to make sure baby wakes up with dry jammies!
--



Now, I should say that Collin is 15 months old, 27 pounds, nurses a couple times a night, and sleeps on his belly, back and side (he's a restless sleeper). He is usually in his diaper from 8 pm until at least 6 am. So, you can take that into consideration. 

Now, all of these work for us but I can't guarantee they'll work for you.  I hope they do though!! I highly recommend each of the above night time systems.


Product Recap:

Lollidoo Overnight EcoPocket

Hemp Babies Little Weed and Doubler

Rumparooz 6r Soaker

Nifty Nappy Fitted Diaper

Nifty Nappy Wool Longies (I can't seem to find a store that has these in stock)

Weehuggers Size 2 Cover

Kissaluvs OS Contour Diaper

"Build Your Own Fitted" from Bum Covered Diapers

Thirsties size Large cover

Little Comfort USA OS Fitted
Blissful Booty AIO
itti bitti Tutto OS

Retailer Recap:

Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique

Cotton Babies

Thanks Mama

Kelly's Closet

Otter Blotters

Bum Covered Diapers

Bum Covered Fitted Diaper Review and Giveaway

I mentioned earlier on Facebook this week that I was going to work on a night time diapering post.  One of the diapers I'm going to include is the fitted diaper I got from Bum Covered Diapers.  Melissa, the maker of this fabulous diaper and co-owner of Bum Covered Diapers, is even going to let one of you win one!! 


Let me tell you how her "Build Your Own Fitted" works! You get to choose the following:


Soakers (sewn inside): You can have flannel, terrycloth or microfiber


Outside Print:  You can choose from her selection here.


Inner Lining:  You can choose from Flannel or Micro fleece


It has an aplix closing (velcro).

These are sized diapers.  The smallest fits from 6-11 pounds while the largest XXXL fits from  36-41 pounds. 

The Cost of These Diapers:  Depending on your options, it could be from $6 to $9.  


Yeah, did you just do a double-take?  That's right, for less than $10, you can have a reliable night time diaper.  Now I have to mention that her prices will be going up in April so now is the time to snag them at this incredible rate!

So how good is it?


Collin's diaper was Cow Print Flannel with a microfiber soaker and a microfleece lining.


Well, we put Collin in his night time diaper around 8 pm and don't change him until around 6 or 7 the next morning.  When I went to change him, I took off his Thirsties cover and expected to feel the diaper soaked...imagine my surprise when the outside of the diaper was still dry to the touch!! I was shocked.  


I should mention Collin sleeps on his back, side and belly..he's a restless sleeper.  He also nurses a couple times a night.  He is almost 15 months old and 27 pounds.  So, you can take all that into consideration.  


I have used Nifty Nappy Wool Longies and a Thirsties size large diaper cover over this diaper and NEVER had a leak...


The velcro is sturdy and the laundry tabs WORK!! The velcro tabs stay put in the washer! 

It is a bigger diaper, but for night time, trimness isn't a requirement for us! 


The size Extra Large (26-31 lbs) is generously sized and will fit Collin for  LONG time! 


It gets an A+ from us!!


And now one of you gets to win your very own Fitted Diaper from Bum Covered Diapers! 


RULES:


1.  Giveaway is open to all those 18 or older who live in the US or Canada.


2.  The mandatory entry must be completed in order for all other entries to count.


3.  This giveaway will end March 3rd at 11:59 pm.


4.  Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond.


5.  Any questions?  Email biehladventures@hotmail.com  

ENTER HERE

p.s.  I apologize for the lack of photos.  I am so quick to grab this diaper and use it..I kept forgetting to take pictures of just the diaper!! 

Awesome Cloth Diaper Giveaway at Change-Diapers.com

Change-Diapers is giving away a $120 cloth diaper prize pack in celebration of reaching 1,000 blog followers!

If you win, you'll receive:

A bumGenius 4.0
A FuzziBunz perfect size diaper
A Flip cover and insert
A Kissaluvs Cotton Fleece fitted
A 12 pack of GroVia cloth wipes
A bottle of Thirsties Booty Luster
A PlanetWise wet bag

FABULOUS, RIGHT??? It's super easy to enter!! Head on over there and enter!

http://www.change-diapers.com/2011/02/120-cloth-diaper-package-giveaway.html

AWESOME Bumgenius Giveaway from Kelly Wels!!

Hey guys!

Don't miss out on the HUGE bumGenius Giveaway from Kelly Wels! It ends March 11!

Up for grabs is:

The bumGenius 4.0 One-Size Cloth Diaper Kit includes:
* 18- bumGenius 4.0 One Size with inserts
* 1 –bumGenius Sprayer
* 1 – bumGenius Pail Liner

Amazing right??

You can check out the details here:  http://www.kellywels.com/kellywels-com-bumgenius-4-0-sweepstakes-kick-off

and

Enter here:  http://www.facebook.com/Kellywels?sk=app_28134323652 

Good luck!!!

Plum Organics Review and $15 gift card giveaway from EcoMom

So, you probably already know this, but I LOVE EcoMom.  (You can read my gushing profession of love here.)  What you may not know, is that I LOVE Plum Organics just as much!! And lucky for me, EcoMom carries Plum Organics foods!


Why do I love Plum Organics?

*Their food comes in BPA Free Packaging.


*Their fruit and veggie packets are easy for momma AND Collin to use!


*Their food is USDA certified Organic.  No yucky ingredients that you can't pronounce!


*Their foods are DELICIOUS! Seriously, I steal bites of it when Collin isn't looking :)


*They have LOTS of options for every stage of feeding: Their "Just" line which is just fruits or just vegetables.  Their Blends of fruits and veggies are great for that 2nd stage.  And they have training meals which introduce your baby to a plethora of flavors!

And now, they've added a line of cereal to their products!! EcoMom has sent me the Organic Multigrain Cereal and the Organic Brown Rice Cereal. I am so excited about this! Although Collin is getting out of the cereal stage at breakfast, it's nice to be able to pull these bags out when we can.  I remember when I first learned about Plum Organics back in June of 2010 and I thought "Man, I wish they made cereal!" Well, here we are! 


So why do I like this cereal?


*Comes in easy to use, resealable bags


*Plum Organics is a trusted brand, especially in our home


*The cereals actually taste like grain...other cereals Collin has tried have had a metallic taste to them..YUCK! Not the case with this cereal.


*USDA certified Organic


*Contain pre and pro-biotics as well as vitamins and minerals.

I recommend these cereals above all others.  When you feed your kids Plum Organics, you can have peace of mind.  


And you can buy Plum Organics at EcoMom and other places.  You should definitely check out what EcoMom has to offer though.  Not only do they have an extensive baby/children food section, but they have toys, clothes, cleaning supplies, arts and crafts, bath time goodies, cloth diapers, laundry detergent (like Rockin' Green!!), and so much more.  

You also will want to know about their Daily Deals!! Every day, one item is put on sale just for that one day! Often, that item is 40% off or more! 


EcoMom has an active Facebook and Twitter account.  Additionally, you can follow their blog for parenting tips and product advice! You can get their newsletter and be up to date on their latest deals and products!


Lastly, let me tell you about the EcoPass.  For $99/year you get 15% off EVERYTHING and FREE SHIPPING on ALL orders.  You also get early access to the Daily Deals! We have an EcoPass and it has more than paid for itself.  And the really cool part?  You get a special code you can use to refer new customers.  Each time someone new shops with your code, you get $10...They write a check and send it your way! Pretty cool huh? 


AND through February 28th, you can use code "SBBL402" to save 15%!


If it's your first time shopping at EcoMom, feel free to use my referral code and save 15% off your first purchase:  SB004445

And now, one of you gets to win a $15 gift certificate to use at EcoMom! 




The Rules:

1. You must live in the US or Canada.
2. You cannot have won an ecomom prize in the last 45 days (You can only win 1 ecomom prize every 45 days).
3. You must complete the mandatory entry in order for all other entries to be valid.  
4. Contest will run until March 1st at 11:59 pm.  
5. Winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond.
6. If you have any questions, email me at biehladventures@hotmail.com

ENTER HERE

*Although I received these products free of charge, it did not influence my opinion. I love EcoMom and Plum Organics and I hope you do too.  Of course, your opinion may differ.

Upcoming CSN Review

If you are new around here, you may not know that I am a big fan of CSN Stores! I've done past reviews and giveaways with them (which is how we first fell in love).  Not only do they carry cloth diapers (a must!), but they also carry pretty much everything under the sun.  Want to buy a blender? They've got that. Need a sink? They've got that too! How about a laptop messenger bag? Yup, you'll find those as well!

With over 200 stores to browse through, CSN Stores are your one-stop shop! And the best part? No fighting for parking spots, no standing in lines.  You can browse in your pjs, sipping some hot chocolate and watching the latest episode of Survivor.  They also offer hassle free returns and free shipping on just about everything! They have some great sales and promotions going on as well! Check them out here.

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter!  This is the best way to find out about giveaways, promotions, and sales!

Stay tuned for more great info about CSN Stores :)

Not so Wordless Wednesday: My Grandpa's Legacy 1-23-27 to 2-09-11

My grandpa has left behind a legacy that will last a hundred lifetimes.  He was a stubborn jokester who loved butter and salt on everything! He always had a good joke or funny story to share. At his funeral, we got to hear a recording of him reciting one of his favorite jokes.  They also had a table set up with all of his toys and jokes because they wanted everyone to take something home to remember grandpa's humor :)

And we can't all help but think he was still having a good laugh when all the cars were getting stuck going up the hill of the cemetery.  And he was stubborn until the very end...when his casket got stuck while getting lowered into the ground, my grandma said "he's still being stubborn!" Through our tears, we laughed and knew that's just what Grandpa would have wanted.  At the dinner afterwards, it truly was a celebration.  My mom and her siblings gathered around my grandma and sang the silly campfire songs they learned as children.  When I asked grandma how she was doing she said she couldn't help but think Grandpa was up there watching and enjoying all of this..and he was.

He was the father to 11 children, grandfather to 32, great grand father to 44, and great great grandfather to 1.  He was loved and will be remembered by so many.   

Me, the hubby, Collin and my Grandma

My entire family minus one sister-in-law and her 3 kiddos.

 

My mom and all of her siblings with grandma.

Oh Artist Series, How I Love Thee...A fun review & giveaway from Diapers, Etc.

I am excited this morning because I am one of 20 bloggers participating in the Diapers Etc. blog party hosted by the ever so wonderful Calley, from The Eco Chic!  

Diapers Etc. has undergone a complete site makeover and is relaunching her cloth diaper retail store...and she wanted to offer up some fun promotions and prizes to celebrate!


Each of the bloggers will be posting about why s/he loves cloth diapers, or a review or write up about the store.  In conjunction with their write-ups will be a $25 gift card giveaway to Diapers, Etc.!! That's right 20 different bloggers are each going to run a giveaway for a $25 gift card for you to use at Diapers, Etc.! Now, you can only win once, but you can enter at every blog to better your chances (and I definitely think you should). 


For my post, I thought I would review my bumGenius 4.0 Artist Series and my Knickernappies Loopy Doo insert...but in a fun and unique way...


So, without further ado...

Oh Artist Series,

How I love thee..

and not just because Diapers Etc.

gave you to me for free!

Your fit around 

my babe's chunky thighs,

makes me so happy

I could fly!

Your butterfly snaps,

so sturdy and strong--

I know choosing that option

is never wrong!

Your prints are so fantastic--

good for both girlies AND boysies...

From Eiffel Tower to Free Spirit,

Concrete Jungle, Jet Setter and Retail Therapy...

Daytime and nap time

is when we use thee...

but not at night 

with our heavy wetter and all his pee!

BumGenius is a trusted name...

and their diapers have brought

them great fame..

We are so happy to see

that Diapers Etc. carries

all of these...

And while I received

my Retail Therapy for free...

please know our love for thee is true...

and will be everlasting.

**
And a haiku:

Oh Knickernappies

Loopy Doo insert, so trim

So absorbent. Love.

**


I'll give you a minute to wipe the tears from your eyes....


Ok, ON TO THE GIVEAWAY!!


One of you will get the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to use at Diapers, Etc! This is such an awesome prize--she carries SO MANY brands...it's incredible.


So, the rules:

1. You can only win one time (for your mailing address)--but you can still enter at all the different blogs!
2. You must be a resident of the US and 18 years or older.
3. You must complete the mandatory entry for all other entries to be valid.  
4. The giveaway will run for 1 week--February 14 through February 21st.
5. Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on February 21st.  
6. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.
7. Any questions? Email me at biehladventures@hotmail.com 

ENTER HERE

Enter all the other giveaways here:

 

Wordless Wednesday: Books a plenty...

 

I am not exaggerating when I say we have read nearly EVERY book in this basket...It warms my heart to watch Collin go over to it, push books aside and pick out his favorites...then he walks over, hands us the book, and proceeds to climb in our laps! I've got myself a snuggly bookworm..and I Love it! 

Fluff Swappers on Facebook

So, after some brief chatter on the FB page I had to write a quick blog post!

I am IN LOVE with Fluff Swappers on Facebook! We had several diapers in our stash that we either weren't using because they didn't fit our son or that were part of a newborn system we weren't going to use with our next one (not preggers, just trying).  I've been able to sell/trade off all the diapers (except 1) that we don't use! It's so fun to know that I use every diaper in my stash..and LOVE them!

I've gotten some amazing deals too! 3 Bummis Easy Fits for a total of $25 (in conjunction with a wet bag trade).  I've swapped diapers covers for diapers.  It's fabulous! And so easy to use!

I've always said I love being a part of the cloth diapering community, and Fluff Swappers is definitely making it an active community!

If you are nervous about selling or trading, don't be! Jump in, check out other prices that people have listed for items if you aren't sure what to set as your price.  Post pictures if you can! My eyes are drawn to those posts first..then I go back and read the "just texts" ones.  If you don't understand all the abbreviations, they have a discussion started (you can find that here). 

I was just saying that I have literally been excited for the entire 14 months we've been cloth diapering and I'm pretty sure it's because I have a constant variety! If we get bored with a diaper, we trade it off or sell it! It's fabulous!!

Now as Sabrina was saying on the FB page..is there such a thing as "stash bliss"?  Well, I doubt I'll ever be perfectly happy with our stash (I mean..there's always new ones to try!!) but I'd say we're pretty close!! We love and use ALL the diapers we have! So fun!!

So, has anyone else tried it?  Did you have a good experience?  Bad? I'd love to hear your stories!

Winter Weight Off: Post #1

So, I haven't updated my baby weight be gone in awhile! For about a week, I fell off the exercise wagon.  I didn't beat myself up though.  That's life.  Things happen. Moving foward!

Anywho, I saw that 5 Minutes for Mom is going to do some "Winter Weight Off" posts and I thought to myself "well, that sounds fun!"  So I'm joining in!

I have been making better food choices and not buying the crappy junk food! Do you know how much you save when you don't buy crap to eat?  The other day I was telling my husband that I don't want all this junk around when Collin is old enough to see it and know what it is AND want it! So, we are making the changes now.  Will I still bake cookies and bread here and there? Of course! I won't deprive myself..I just won't over indulge either!

So, here's to my continued weight loss and healthier life style changes! Cheers!

I LOVE EcoMom (an UNsponsored post)

So, if you are new to my blog, you might not know about the love affair I have with EcoMom.  Don't worry...my husband knows about it and he's supportive! :)

I first heard about EcoMom when they were looking for bloggers to review their then new line of baby foods from Plum Organics. Then, the next month, they did a special where you could buy a lifetime EcoPass for $99.  So, I get 15% off my purchases PLUS free shipping on all my orders. FOR LIFE. Usually, it's $99 a year.

Well, here we are 7 months later...and I'm still in love :)  First it was the plum organics "Just" fruits and veggie blends...then we discovered training meals...then Grammy Sammies..Fiddlesticks...MishMashes.. There was a long stretch of time where I placed orders every week..sometimes twice in one day!

Well then they introduced "Daily Deals" where they choose 1 product each day and offer it at an insanely low price!! So, we discovered Episencial Sunscreen, Body Wash, and Moisturizer.  Well, then for Christmas, my grandmother-in-law got me a gift card to use at EcoMom and I was determined to buy something for ME....

Stash It out of its ball

Enter LOVE Reusable bags...*swoon*  I am a big fan of reusable bags--they hold more groceries, are easier to carry, better for the environment, and just look and feel better than plastic bags.  But up until I discovered LOVE Reusable bags, I thought they just came in green/black/blue and typically wear out after a few washes.

Well, I have seen the light my friends.  I bought the LOVE Reusable Bags Chill Set and Stash It bag and I have been in reusable bag heaven! My chill set bags are HEAVY duty..I went shopping and fit $83 worth of groceries in my 4 Chill Set bags.  Trust me..it was a lot of groceries! I don't even have to use my old green bags anymore!

The cooler that comes with the chill set is amazing.  Never have I owned a soft sided cooler that you could put ice in.  Usually they leak.  But!! We used it on our trip up to Michigan and had NO leaks..EVER!!

And my Stash It bag is probably my most fun bag! It gets so compact that I can just tuck it in my purse and then I whip it out at the register! I fit $30 worth of groceries in it the other day! LOVE IT!!

Stash It all balled up

Who knew shopping would be more fun with cute reusable bags?  Maybe I'm just crazy...

Anyways, I just wanted to tell you all how much I love my LOVE Reusable bags...nobody asked me to write this--I just love them and want others to buy them and love them too!!

And since I'm an EcoPass member, I get $10 for every new customer that I send to EcoMom.  If you feel so inclined to make your first purchase there, use code "SB004445" at checkout and you'll save 15% off!

Ok, thanks for listening to me gush :)

Oh and they are having a scavenger hunt right now!! Try and find all 12 hearts -- they have a heart with 12 different products.  But you have to look carefully!! I overlooked a few but finally found them!! 3 random folks who participate will win a $25 gc!

Valentine's Day....not so much

So, I hope I don't come across as a bah hum bug kind of gal..but we don't celebrate Valentine's Day around the Biehl House.  No cards, no special gifts...nada...but don't feel bad for me.  It's totally a joint decision we made years ago!

I always tell my husband I want flowers for no reason...on a Tuesday..because you thought they looked pretty...and ya know what..he does that! All the time? No. But that's our frugal side coming out.  We tell each other we love each other all the time...seriously, we probably annoy people with how much we talk to each other on the phone during the day and such. 

We aren't big fans of buying each other gifts--stresses us out.  For our anniversary, we take trips..sometimes they're amazing (Hawaii, cruise)..other times, they're simple and nice (nice hotel in the city).  For birthdays, we go out to dinner or go on a picnic at a state park. 

I don't know if we'll continue this no Valentine's Day presents stance when Collin gets older.  I always liked getting my little goody basket from my mom and dad on Valentine's Day..so I think we'll definitely do that for Collin..but as far as for each other...eh, not so much :)

What about you?  Do you use Valentine's Day as a day to get some special alone time?  Or is it just another day in your house? 

1,000 Likes Celebration on Facebook! UPDATE!

We have reached 1000+ likes!! HOLY MOLY!! I am going to continue to accept sponsors through Thursday night.  On Friday morning, I will post an album with pictures of all the prizes.  Each one will have different entry requirements.  You will fill out a google form for each item you want to win.  You can win more than once! And if you are sponsoring, you can enter to win everything but your own prize (duh, I know).  I will leave them open for 48 hours.  After that time, I will use random.org to draw winners.  I will email winners and announce them.

Would you like to sponsor a prize?? Fill out this form: http://bit.ly/eCeCbH


Here's what is up for grabs so far:


Fitted diaper in boy or girl print with sewn in soaker from Modified Momma Reviews (US ONLY)


Blissful Booty AIO diaper in choice of size from Blissful Booty Boutique (US AND CANADA)


1 Single-Grabby Tabby from TreaSured Creations (WORLD WIDE - winner pays $1 shipping)


$10 off a purchase of $40 or more from 31 gift by Bobbi (US ONLY)


$15 gift certificate to Comfy Cozy Diapers from Comfy Cozy Diapers (US ONLY)


A gift certificate to ecomom.com for the amount of a LOVE Chill Set from EcoMom (US and Canada)


A Kawaii Snazzy Minky Diaper from Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique (US and Canada)


3 Months of ad space at So Mommy Reviews (World Wide)


Something fun from Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper Detergent 

A bumGenius Flip cover with insert from The Tree Huggin' Momma  

A sampling of different scents of detergent from Eco Sprouts (US only)


A Doopsy "SD" diaper in Sunny Yellow from Doable Diapers (US and Canada)


$5 gift certificate to Fluffalumps (US and Canada)


Regular sized laundry soap in your choice of scent and type from Crunchy Clean (US and Canada)


A diaper from Little Tush Diaper Co.


PUL diaper cover, (S/M/L), touch-tape closure. Choose from in stock fabrics from SugarBaby Diapers (WorldWide:  International winner pays international priority mail $11.95 to Canada/Mexico $13.95 elsewhere.)

A medium sized box of Eco Nuts from Eco Nuts (US and Canada)

$5 store credit to Tini Bottoms (US only)  


Planetwise wetbag size small color Black Curly Q from All About Baby Boutique (US and Canada) 

their brand new Grapefruit All-Purpose Cleaner from J.R. Watkins Natural Products (US and Canada)


A $10 gc to Natural Pure Essentials (US only) 


1 diaper with an insert and 1 doubler from MiniMaestro (US and Canada) 

An iPlay organic onesie gift set from Go Green Baby Company (US and Canada)

$10 gift card to Go, Baby, Go Shop from Gina Turella Garcia- Go, Baby, Go! Independent Consultant (US ONLY)

$10 Victoria's Secret gift card from Mommy of 3 Peas  (US ONLY)


A hat in your choice of size and color from Rocking Creations (WORLDWIDE)

2 BumGenius Organic Elemental AIO diapers from Kelly Wels (US ONLY) 

$20 gift certificate to DeeBead Creations  (US and Canada)




 


***

Wordless Wednesday

We made ice cream...out of snow, sugar, milk, vanilla, strawberry jam and chocolate chips!!

Oh..and chocolate covered strawberries!